Villages/Small Towns in Northern France

If you're in the mood for a beach town in Northern France, they are located in the Pas-de-Calais area. I've been to a couple of them. I would suggest Le Touquet. As to a city , if not a small quaint place, I recommend Amiens or Arras. Northern France stretches from the Somme to the Belgian border, known as "Germinal" country.

I've spent a good amount of time here, been through and/or visited numerous villages and towns in this area, which in its own way is fascinating and captivating, depending upon what you're looking for. Cambrai is worth seeing.

Welcome to the forum ajemyoung, but how are you travelling, car or train?

If you are looking for something authentic and typically from the North of France try Saint Omer.

https://www.tourisme-saintomer.com/en/

And eat at the "3 caves"
It's an "Estaminet" the typical restaurants of the North of France.

https://www.tourisme-saintomer.com/en/annuaire/estaminet-de-drie-kalders/

Wil has a good question. Will you have a car, or will you be relying on public transportation? That will help dictate where you can go. What will you be recuperating from?

Without a car, perhaps Arras would fit the assignment.

It would be easier to help if we knew what type of transportation you are planning.

I'd have thought you would have avoided a car in Paris and Amsterdam, to say nothing of Antwerpen, and all the registration details for a non Belgian/Dutch car, but perhaps it is your own car with none of those concerns, let along a third country drop fee.

So not knowing any of those things on your first post, please let us know if you will be driving or taking the train.

How many is "a few days"?

Thank you all for the information. We would like to travel by train so I know that will dictate quite a bit. We will have 3-4 days and will be "recuperating" from Paris in the summertime. I've done it before so I know about the crowds and rush to see/experience everything. Again, thank you everyone and I will start looking into these options!

I am currently reading a book called "My Four Seasons in France. " The author, a British ex-pat, lives in the region near Calais and talks about many of the little towns / villages in that area. You might find it a helpful resource. The author, Janine Marsh, also has a blog, The Good Life France.